Childhood Heroes: “I was a huge Steve Kinzer fan. I followed a lot of open-wheel racing as a kid living down on the west coast. And sprint cars were my thing. And he is ‘The man’ when it comes to that kind of racing.”

Hobbies/Interests: “I love scuba diving, bowling, boating, video games, golf, racquetball, just snow skiing. I’m a pretty active person. I like to get out and about and do a lot of fun things.”

Favorite Movies: “Yeah, I love movies. The Thomas Crown Affair is one of my favorite movies. Crimson Tide is one. I like a lot of different types of movies.”

Musical Tastes: “I’m pretty broad when it comes to that too. I like Top 40, a little Hip-hop, a little country, some chill out classic music too, every once in a while. I guess something I’ve really gotten into this past year was going on the internet and downloading music and burning my own CD’s.”

First Job: “I still don’t have a job so I’m not sure [laughs]. I guess I worked for my parents during the summer – sweeping floors. They had a machine shop. And I’d do some of the work on the machines.”

First Car: “1986 Chevy step-side pickup. Well, it was rust color when I got it, but I made it red eventually.”

Favorite Meal: “Probably a real good French meal. Man, I love sauces and things like that. I like Italian. But if I had to pick one meal, I’d want a ten-course French meal with wine and the whole deal, man [smiles]. Of course, while I was over in Spain this past winter, McDonalds was the best meal I had over there [smiles].”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Oh, without a doubt, Edy’s Rocky Road.”

Early Racing Memory: “First time I was ever in a car was in a field at a fairgrounds – in a quarter-midget that my stepdad put me into. Spinning around in circles, throwing gravel everywhere. I do not remember winning my first race. I remember going to the racetrack and flipping upside down in one of my first-ever events. I don’t really remember winning races until I was like nine or ten-years old. Then I remember winning some grand national events and some big events at the time.”

Pre-Race Feeling: “I go through different things. There’s some races I kind of have this feeling that we’re gonna win. Then there’s days when I have no clue as to what’s going to happen…and we still have a good day…or maybe get into victory lane. And then there’s those days where I’ve got this nervousness that I don’t understand, don’t know why. But most of the time I’m just level-headed, low-key, comfortable, relaxed, ready to go, get the race started.”

Funny Racing Memory: “Gosh, there’s only one thing that makes me smile and that’s winning [smiles]. So I don’t know. I’m sure there’s been a few moments. But it’s hard for me to remember. Mine are usually more dramatic moments than they are funny.”

Closest Racing Friends: “I have kids that I grew up racing with in quarter-midgets. A guy named Greg Decaires. But I don’t get to see him as often as I’d like to. Who are some others? A guy named Rawley Helming – that owned a race car that I drove for – is still a good friend of mine. Rick Hendrick, who owns my car now. You know, you don’t make a lot of friends in racing. You usually lose a lot of friends in racing [laughs]. But I have been fortunate to have a few real special people in my life.”